can having a protien skimmer to big hurt

I'm a firm believer in over skimming. While I'm not saying get a skimmer that can handle 3 times your total volume. I'm saying 1.5-2 times total volume is a good place to start.

 

I fail to understand your logic... I agree that a large skimmer will "not have enough organics to pull out so the foam head will go down", but if that's the case, then your skimmer most definitely is too big as it requires more organics to maintain the foam than what your system is producing, while OTOH, a more properly-rated skimmer would continue removing DOCs down to a lower level.

That said-- as already mentioned earlier, one can use an over-rated skimmer as long as it's within reason; the OP's setup should work just fine.

 

So the psk 75 is rated 10-75g, it should do fine

 

It will work. How easy to adjust depends on how well it is matched to the number of fish you have and how much/often you feed. Most likely, if you are feeding a reasonable amount, it will be fine.

 

I run one on my JBJ 28 gal cube, no sump, with no issues. In fact it is working out awesome! That is a perfect size for that tank IMO and I think you will really like it. As long as you keep your water level constant, they are a set it once and forget it skimmer (unless you drastically increase bio-load).

 

+1

I saw an article awhile ago where they mentioned skimmers being too large for a system requiring a higher level of dissolved organics to maintain an appropriate head to remvoe the organics. The best skimmers for your system are usually ones that are 2-3x larger than the posted stats. For ex a 20gal system works best with a skimmer designed for a 40-60gal system

 

When you lose the foam head it is a sign the skimmer has caught up to the bioload, if your skimmer is always producing skimmate it has not caught up to the organics level

 

A properly rated skimmer will never "catch up to" the bioload. All of your livestock does not defecate at once, and detritus does not immediately break down into DOCs. Therefore, organics in an established system are being produced at a constant level 24/7. If your skimmer stops producing skimmate, it is either too large for your system, or it needs cleaned or readjusted.

 

Only if the manufacture overrates their skimmer by 2-3x . Really, there is no standard for rating, so, the rating can be meaningless. Also, it depends on the bioload more than tank size per say, anyways. However, certain manufactures are more "honest" than others I guess. You really have to look at the actual numbers, chamber size, design, pump gph and scfm etc... And look at the bio loads of other people using them and how they are working. One manufacture may label a skimmer 70 gallons, and another, basically the same skimmer 140 etc... Really. So, telling people to just buy a really big skimmer does no good, I think the majority of threads where people have trouble adjusting a skimmer are because they bought one way too big for their bioload. When it takes days to build up enough of a foam head to actually adjust it, how the heck are you supposed to adjust it? Sit there for days watching it?